Record Summer Of Transfers In La Liga

byDavidonSeptember 1, 2015

Spending by Spain’s top clubs on new signings rises for third consecutive year, led by Valencia and Atlético Madrid, broke the historical record set in 2007 of 541 million euros. This summer, the 20 clubs of Primera have splashed 558.3 million euros on new players, 86.6 million more than last year. One of the reasons for the huge outlay is the amount of money received by the top flight in transfer fees of 401.2 million euros.

What made this such an unusual transfer market, and one that should make La Liga really competitive this season is that it was not Real Madrid and Barcelona who were the big spenders this year but Valencia and Atlético.

Valencia spent 137 million in total, although 90 million of that has been in purchase options on players that were already at the club (Rodrigo, Álvaro Negredo, André Gomes, João Cancelo and Yoel Rodríguez).

Atlético have invested 126 million in the squad, including snapping up players who will join up with the side next year. However, the Calderón has received 120.5 million in sales, more than any other club in the league.

Real Madrid complete the big spenders, although their last ditch bid for David de Gea did not come to fruition. The Bernabéu still managed to spend 88.9 million, with Danilo (31.5m) and Mateo Kovacic (35m) the star arrivals.

Barcelona, who are under a ban on registering players until January imposed by Fifa, made just two signings, although one was the costliest of the window in Spain: Arda Turan, from Atlético, for a fee of 34 million euros rising to 41 million in add-ons.

The Liga’s middle class have also not been shy in getting the cheque book out. Villarreal have spent 46.2 million on 11 players and have revamped their attack with Roberto Soldado, Samu Castillejo, Samu García, Cédric Bakumbu and Leo Baptistão.

Sevilla have also made the same number of signings but at a lesser cost (29 million) than the amount they received for selling Carlos Bacca to Milan (30 million). Real Sociedad did exceed the 30 million mark, largely through the purchase of Asier Illarramendi from Real Madrid.

The teams that spent the least during the window were Getafe and Sporting: not a single euro. They are followed by two of the division’s most frugal competitors in Rayo (100,000 euros for 11 players) and Eibar (300,000 for 15 new signings).

The club that brought in the most players in La Liga was Granada, with 16 new faces for a total cost of 2.7 million euros.